Social Security Q & A
Q: I am about to apply for Social Security disability benefits. I have two children, ages 13 and 15. If my application is approved, will they get benefits, too? Or do the children also have to be disabled to qualify for benefits on my record?

Neighbors: News and notes from Hastings ...
MLK of Hastings will host a fund-raising event at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Walter E. Harris Community Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for children under 12. An ad booklet is being assembled, and T-shirts are available for $10. Call Tonya, 392-6466 or Brenda, 540-6298, for further information.

Care-filled retirees help Habitat build homes
Most of us dream of retirement.
How different these dreams can be.
While some are content to float on a boat or to travel the continents, others just love to help people and even travel great distances to do so.

Go & Do
TODAY
Concert: Brainworms will be on stage at 8:30 p.m. at Cafe Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. Tickets are $5. Call 460-9311 or go to cafeeleven.com.

Seniors have legal advocate in Wall
Megan Wall is accustomed to fighting, and it's all legal. Her work as managing attorney for St. Johns County Legal Aid usually involves doing legal battle for the most vulnerable of our county residents, and she packs a pretty powerful legal punch.

Go & Do
TODAY
Brown bag lunch lecture: "Right Whales" with Frank Gromling will be featured from noon to 1 p.m. at GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach. Gromling will present an overall understanding of the North Atlantic right whale, including its history, biology and current status and explain the right whale winter migration and the importance of northeast Florida waters. His book, "Frank's Whales," is available for purchase in the Friends of the Reserve Nature Store. Bring a bag lunch. There is no cost to attend the lecture. Call 823-4500.

Area Outdoor Events
Faver-Dykes State Park is a beautiful park that has gone undiscovered by much of the general public.

Life in a Nutshell:
With Brian nursing a cold, and still trying to recover from a dozen family members for Christmas and a two-year-old's birthday, here's a column from last January.
And then it was all quiet sort of.

Rockin' the Ancient City
Dressed in all black and rocking a drop earring, Ron Norris sat down with Compass at the White Lion Restaurant & Pub to discuss a music career that spans almost 45 years.

'Breaking Up is Hard to Do'
eil Sedaka, who has composed more than 1,000 tunes, including a dozen major hits, recorded 1959-63 (with lyricist Howard Greenfield), is recognized today as one of rock and pop music's legendary pioneers.

Upcoming Events
Friday Flick: "After the Wedding," a melodrama with class, will be on screen at 7 p.m., at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, A1A (Intercoastal side) at Florida Avenue, St. Augustine Beach. This small import was "shot on a modest budget with a small cast in an intimate style. Yet it won a richly deserved Oscar nomination in 2007, spanned two continents to tell a story of huge impact, and all but burst with outsize passions," according to Joe Morgensteern of The Wall Street Journal. For information, call 471-4539.

Pre-event mixer for Dancing with the Local Stars
The Stars of the fundraising event for the Donna Hicken Foundation, Dancing With the Local Stars, will host a pre-event mixer at the San Sebastian Winery on Thursday, Jan. 10. The pre-event party will feature singers Jan Crawford and Michelle Reyna. The mixer will run from 6 to 8 p.m. and is open to the public. A cash bar and cheese will be provided. A beautiful wine basket donated by the Winery will be raffled. Tickets to the February event can be purchased online at www.dancewithstaugstars.com or call Ines Russ at 817-1902.

Late-night television funnymen back on the air
NEW YORK -- Late-night TV hosts returned to the air Wednesday after a two-month hiatus, showing support for their striking writers, plenty of creative stretch marks and at least two scruffy beards.

Things To Do
Winter Wonderland: Enjoy ice skating, snow, s'mores, a little elf village and other festive holiday fun at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. daily during the school holiday break (through Jan. 6). Go online at staugamphitheatre.com or call 471-1965.

Writers will learn how to make that sale
Speaker Carol O'Dell, author of the critically acclaimed "Mothering Mother," is a professional writer, speaker and educator. O'Dell will talk about "writing book proposals that sell" at the next meeting of The Ancient City Chapter of the Florida Writers Association Jan. 19.

Call to member artists
The Art Advocate Gallery (76 B San Marco Ave, uptown St. Augustine) will be opening the doors to St. Johns Cultural Council members in January. As a fundraiser, the organization will ask for a $5 donation to include one piece of artwork in a group show called "Peace Be With You." Show opens Jan. 26. Invitations to this show will be sent to all SJCC members in the near future. Call 826-4116.

First Friday Art Walk: New Exhibits
First Friday Art Walk and Art Walk Weekend: New exhibits open in more than 20 area galleries on the first Friday of each month, from 5 to 9 p.m. The event continues through the weekend. The art walk is sponsored by Art Galleries of St. Augustine (AGOSA). Go online at staugustinegalleries.com to learn more.

Winter Wonderland
Ice skating, sleigh rides, live theater, lighted trails, s'mores and other activities have been available at Winter Wonderland at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre since Nov. 23.

Best act winners in Celebrity Cabaret
The 6th annual Celebrity Cabaret, a 2007 fundraising event called "Guys and Gals: A Parody of Love and Relationships," took place Nov. 14-17 at Limelght Theatre. From the 18 acts, this year's winners were: 1st place Before He Cheats; 2nd place I Hope I Get It; and voted best overall act was the Finale High School Musical.

Music events
First Mondays: The Historic Cafe, 24 Cathedral Place, downtown St. Augustine, hosts free classical music on the first Monday of each month. For more information, call 687-1403 or e-mail historiccafe@yahoo.com

Tribute to Arthur Miller
The new year brings a treat for theater aficionados. A staged reading of Arthur Miller's "After The Fall" will be presented in tribute to one of America's great playwrights, who died on Feb. 10, 2005 at the age of 90.

Coast Guard Band
The United States Coast Guard Band, the Congressionally designated premier band of the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, brings a special performance to St. Augustine, at 3 p.m. Jan. 27 at Anastasia Baptist Church.

'The Fantasticks'
"The Fantasticks" is the longest-running musical in the world, and with good reason: at the heart of its breathtaking poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time.

Enjoyment of Music Classes
Dr. Gerson Yessin will be facilitating a new class called the"Enjoyment of Music" at THE PLAYERS Community Senior Center, 175 Landrum Lane in Ponte Vedra Beach. The class is scheduled to begin from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, and will continue each Monday until further notice.

TAGI Quartet
EMMA's twenty-ninth season will continue Jan. 12 with the exciting, young quartet called TAGI, presenting the program "Classics Meet Jazz."

Music Prodigy
Conrad Oberg, a 13-year-old blind music prodigy, and his father Michael, sat down at Hurricane Patty's to discuss the short but impressive career of the teenage pianist, guitarist and singer.

North Florida Report
From reports by marinas, bait and tackle shops and guides:
BEST BET: The big freeze will be gone by the weekend. But it should have left speckled perch fishermen a gift in its wake. The freeze should trigger the specks to concentrate in schools, moving from the deeper water to the shallows around weed lines. We'll have a new moon Tuesday night and fishing a day or two before that should make the bite even better. The weatherman is calling for winds at 10 knots Saturday and Sunday with seas 2 to 3 feet. But out past 20 miles, the remnants of the northwest blow will remain. Seas will be 4 to 6 feet.

Winter-time truffles
Few treats are as divine as chocolate truffles. Studded with dried cranberries and rolled in crushed candy canes, these are especially so. Be sure to keep them refrigerated.

Not too late for holiday margarita
Don't use salt to coat the rim of your glass for this winter-appropriate margarita from Rebecca Rather's "The Pastry Queen Christmas." She suggests running a bit of cut lime around the rim, then dunking the glass in sugar.

A heavenly combination
Enjoy the startling and heavenly combination of hamachi (known as yellowtail fish in English), creamy avocado and bitter grapefruit from Nobuo Fukuda of Sea Saw restaurant in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Lighter Fare for the New Year
My name is Carolyn Ashbaugh. I moved from South Carolina to St. Augustine a little over a year ago to enroll in First Coast Tech's School of Culinary Arts. I'm campaigning for student body president of our school.

Brewers see higher prices ahead
Will 2008 be frothy or flat for beer drinkers? Unfortunately, the new year brings portents of major price increases. Hang out with some brewers and you'll hear the phrase "perfect storm" tossed around a lot. A convergence of factors bad harvests, reduced acreage, burgeoning demand for beer in China is driving the price of barley and hops skyward.

Recipe Finder: Louisiana Rice Cake
Thelma Maisenholder of Fallston, Md., was looking for a recipe for a Louisiana Ring Cake like the one her mother used to buy many years ago from Rice's Bakery in Baltimore.

What chefs should know about knives
Old school chefs never "graduate" apprentices to the stove until they have mastered knife skills. And the first step to proficiency, even if earning three stars isn't on your radar, is having the right equipment.

Dr. Donohue: No screening test for ovarian cancer
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Recently a close relative of mine died of ovarian cancer. In discussing this with my gynecologist, she told me that there is a blood test to detect ovarian cancer, and she gave me a script for it. It's the CA-125 test. I researched it on the Internet and found that it has a high false-positive and false-negative rate. Since I have no symptoms, I wonder if this test is advisable for me. What is your opinion? P.H.

Flip-flop: the plus and minus of Provenge
The fact that Provenge appears to be safe and produces few side effects was a big plus in patients' eyes, says Jan Manarite, a Florida educational facilitator with the Prostate Cancer Research Institute whose husband has advanced prostate cancer. The standard treatment, taxotere, can cause fatigue and other symptoms and increases the risk for infection.

Osteoporosis doesn't just affect women
It is no wonder that most consumers and many doctors consider osteoporosis a "women's health" issue: More than 8 million women in this country suffer from it; it is often termed "post menopausal" osteoporosis; the only visible symptom is known as a "dowager's hump"; and for years the only medical treatment was female hormone replacement therapy.

Justice Department opens CIA tape investigation
WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department said Wednesday that it has opened a formal criminal investigation into the CIA's destruction of interrogation tapes, appointing a career prosecutor to examine whether intelligence officials broke the law by destroying videos of exceptionally harsh questioning of terrorism suspects.

Huckabee, Obama sweep Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Sen. Barack Obama swept to victory in the Iowa caucuses Thursday night, pushing Hillary Rodham Clinton to third place and taking a major stride in a historic bid to become the nation's first black president. Mike Huckabee rode a wave of support from evangelical Christians to win the opening round among Republicans in the 2008 campaign for the White House.

Political attention shifts to N.H.
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The presidential candidates return Friday morning to a state in transition, pitching their appeals not just to longtime New Englanders but to the many newcomers who have arrived in recent years.

Candidates make final appeals to voters
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Candidates looking to score big in Iowa's presidential caucuses made their final appeals to voters Wednesday through star-studded rallies, talk-show appearances and shoe-leather politics.

Why does oil cost so much?
Global demand for oil is rising faster than supply. So any little hiccup in supply can cause oil traders to go berserk particularly since many traders are just buying and selling to make a buck, not because they actually need physical crude.

Oil Prices Hit $100 a Barrel
MILWAUKEE -- The price of oil touched $100 a barrel on the first business day of 2008 Wednesday, renewing concerns about whether the U.S. economy will fall into recession amid falling housing prices, a tightening credit crunch, high energy prices and a slowdown in the manufacturing sector.

Retirement home rejected
After more than two hours of public debate at its monthly meeting on Thursday afternoon, the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency denied the application by a developer to rezone property off U.S. 1 and Old Moultrie Road to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for a 190-bed independent living retirement center.

Public Debates Evolution
JACKSONVILLE -- Ministers opposed to teaching intelligent design in public schools and a retired science teacher who said the theory of evolution could be in conflict with science itself, were among the 48 people who shared their wide range of opinions Thursday in a public hearing about Florida's science standards.

RiverTown faces penalties
Regulators are seeking more than $50,000 from RiverTown builders to compensate for silt deposits that clogged Switzerland waterways during the fall.

Boat storage plan sunk
St. Augustine's Planning and Zoning Board on Wednesday scuttled a 300-slip boat storage complex on the Sebastian River, a decision helped by the complaints, petitions and testimony of Lincolnville residents.

Equestrian homesites nixed
Dozens of residents from the Riverdale area off County Road 13 showed up to speak to the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency on Thursday afternoon, opposing the proposed equestrian-style residential community a developer wants to build on rural farmland along the river.

Time to hit the ice
No doubt some winter clothes that had yet to see the light of day this season were taken out of their boxes and shaken out as the cold front came in Wednesday.

For The Record
Fort Matanzas National Monument will present a Living History Day on Saturday. Re-enactors portraying Spanish soldiers of the 1740s will be at the fort all day engaging in their daily tasks at this outpost fortification.

Flags to fly at half staff for Tutten
Gov. Charlie Crist has ordered that flags be flown at half staff Friday to honor Army Sgt. Bryan Joseph Tutten, who died in Iraq on Christmas Day, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel.

Another frosty morn
A second night of expected low temperatures had the St. Francis House and several churches opening doors to allow homeless residents a place out of the weather.

Skybus offers special one-way fares
Skybus Airlines, the company known for its $10 airline tickets, announced Wednesday that it will offer special low-cost fixed-prices on one-way fares flying between Jan. 9 and Feb. 29. The tickets will cost $20.08 and must be purchased by this Saturday at midnight.

Pig blamed for home fire
Attempts to keep a pig warm during below freezing temperatures Wednesday led to a residential structure fire that caused $50,000 damage to a St. Johns County home.

Police Report:
The following was compiled from police reports collected from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO), St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD) and St. Augustine Beach Police Department (SABPD):

Police Report:
PALATKA
An autopsy of a woman found dead in her Palatka apartment Christmas Day determined that she was killed by foul play, Police Chief James Griffith said Wednesday.

Car partially submerged
A St. Johns County man escaped from a partially submerged car after an accident Thursday morning in northern St. Johns County.

Feds approve Indian gambling agreement with state
TALLAHASSEE -- Federal authorities approved an agreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe that allows expanded gambling at the tribe's casinos in exchange for payments to the state, officials said Wednesday.

Police looking for man
A man with a history of violence is being sought by law enforcement after he failed to register with the St. Johns County Probation Office.

Lovetts look to China for treatment
Rylee Lovett, the Davis Shores girl suffering from a congenital condition that has made her legally blind, will be going to China for innovative stem cell treatment as her parents hoped, but her family has not yet raised all the funds needed.

Man struck by tree limb
A 30-year-old man was taken to Shands Jacksonville on Thursday by helicopter after a tree limb struck him on the head. Charles Hurley with Beaches Tree Service was one of four men working to remove a partially rotted tree Thursday at 54 N. Roscoe Blvd., in St. Johns County. He was on the ground as the other men were cutting one tree limb.

Graham, board to refile tuition suit tossed by judge
TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Board of Governors and several private plaintiffs led by former Gov. Bob Graham plan to refile a lawsuit challenging the Legislature's authority over tuition and fees at state universities after a judge rejected their initial case Thursday.

Eugenia (Gene) Nelson Manley
Eugenia (Gene) Nelson Manley went home peacefully to the Lord on December 30th, 2007. A native of New Jersey, she graduated East Orange High School in 1939 and attended Upsala College where she was passionately involved in choral music. Her love for the arts and music was passed on to her three children, who were raised in the Disciples of Christ church.

Andrew J. Dupont, Jr
Andrew J. "Drew" Dupont Jr., 66, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 1, 2007, at Flagler Hospital. Mr. Dupont was a native of Jacksonville, Fla., and had resided in St. Augustine most of his life. Mr. Dupont was a retired U.S. Air Force officer, having served as a pilot in the Vietnam War, retiring as lieutenant colonel, retired president of W.D. Dupont Construction and a field underwriter and certified safety engineer. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Boy Scouts of America and the Kiwanis Club. He was a member of San Sebastian Catholic Church.

Margaret C. Carter
Margaret (Marbie) C. Carter, 88, a longtime resident of St. Augustine, Fla., died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, Dec. 31, 2007 in Winter Park, Fla. She was born to Charles and Fanny Harris in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on July 5, 1919. She had two brothers, Ed Harris and Bob Harris, and one sister, Vi Harris, all of whom preceded her. She was the wife and widow of Cecil C. Carter. She had three sons, Charles, Gary and Mark (a.k.a. "them boys") who she lovingly referred to as "her three degrees." She was preceded by a son, Gary Carter.

Ella Mae McPherson
Ella Mae McPherson, St. Augustine, died Dec. 30, 2007 at St. Augustine Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. McPherson was a native of Middleburg, Fla., and had resided in St. Augustine for over 50 years. She was a retired cook for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and a member of St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church.

Harold B. Goff III
Harold B. "Sonny" Goff III, 58, of St. Augustine, died Dec. 31, 2007, at Flagler Hospital. Mr. Goff was a native of Boston, Mass., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 18 years. Mr. Goff was a hairdresser and cosmetologist. Mr. Goff served in the Massachusetts National Guard and was a volunteer for Catholic Charities. He was of the Catholic faith.

Eugenia Nelson Manley
Eugenia (Gene) Nelson Manley went home peacefully to the Lord on December 30, 2007. A native of New Jersey, she graduated East Orange High School in 1939 and attended Upsala College where she was passionately involved in choral music. Her love for the arts and music was passed on to her three children, who were raised in the Disciples of Christ Church.

George Alexandric Jacob
George Alexandric Jacob, 78, of St. Augustine, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007 at Sentra Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Va. He was a Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. native who had lived in St. Augustine since 1996.

Harold B. Goff III
Harold "Sonny" B. Goff III, 58, of St. Augustine, died Dec. 31, 2007. He was born Dec. 26, 1949, to Harold and Virginia Goff in Boston, Mass., where he was raised and served in the Massachu-setts National Guard. He moved to St. Augustine 18 years ago where he has been a popular hairdresser. Sonny was also a frequent volunteer with Catholic Charities.

Anna Josephine Holder
Anna Josephine Holder, 91, of St. Augustine, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. She was born on Oct. 31, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pa., to parents, John and Anna Boyle. Mrs. Holder had been a seamstress and enjoyed beading, knitting and was a fabulous cake decorator. Mrs. Holder was proud of her Scotch-Irish heritage and was a devout Catholic. She was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in St. Augustine and will be deeply missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph Jennings Holder and a sister, Eleanor Maier.

Bryant Hampton Mickler
Bryant Hampton Mickler, 89, of Blackshear, Ga., died Jan. 1, 2007, at Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross, Ga., following an extended illness. Mr. Mickler was a native of Palm Valley, Fla., and had lived there all of his life before moving to Pierce County four years ago. Mr. Mickler was a retired farmer and stock raiser, and he attended First Baptist Church in Blackshear.

Bryant Hampton Mickler
Bryant Hampton Mickler, 89, of Blackshear, Ga., died Jan. 1, 2007, at Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross, Ga., following an extended illness. Mr. Mickler was a native of Palm Valley, Fla., and had lived there all of his life before moving to Pierce County four years ago. Mr. Mickler was a retired farmer and stock raiser, and he attended First Baptist Church in Blackshear.

Harold B. Goff III
Harold B. "Sonny" Goff III, 58, of St. Augustine, died Dec. 31, 2007, at Flagler Hospital. Mr. Goff was a native of Boston, Mass., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past 18 years. Mr. Goff was a hairdresser and cosmetologist. Mr. Goff served in the Massachusetts National Guard and was a volunteer for Catholic Charities. He was of the Catholic faith.

Evelyn Jones Motes
Evelyn Jones Motes, 85 of Palatka, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend died Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, Fla. She was a native of Palatka and lived in Palatka for more than 75 years. Evelyn was a 60-year-long charter member of the Women's Club of Palatka and belonged to the Garden Club of Palatka. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Palatka and was an avid gardener and entrepreneur, having founded the Palatka Telephone Answering Service. She was also active in Brownie Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

Evelyn Jones Motes
Evelyn Jones Motes, 85 of Palatka, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend died Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, Fla. She was a native of Palatka and lived in Palatka for more than 75 years. Evelyn was a 60-year-long charter member of the Women's Club of Palatka and belonged to the Garden Club of Palatka. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Palatka and was an avid gardener and entrepreneur, having founded the Palatka Telephone Answering Service. She was also active in Brownie Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

Edward J. Labach
Edward J., 86, died on Dec. 30, 2007. He was a proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps, veteran of World War II and a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal. Beloved husband of the late Irene; loving father of Linda Miller, Gary (Diane) Labach, Elaine (Bruce Grady) Labach and Nancy (John) Thomson; and devoted grandfather of Sonya, Kelly, Erica, Laura, David, Danny, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Sarah, Rachel, Zachary and Luke. Visitation Friday 2:30-9 p.m. at Kaul Funeral Home, 27830 Gratiot Ave., Roseville, Fla. Service 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Please make a donation in Edward's name at www.1stmarinedivisionassociation.org. Share a memory with the family at www.kaulfuneralhome.com

Eugenia (Gene) Nelson Manley
Eugenia (Gene) Nelson Manley went home peacefully to the Lord on December 30th, 2007. A native of New Jersey, she graduated East Orange High School in 1939 and attended Upsala College where she was passionately involved in choral music. Her love for the arts and music was passed on to her three children, who were raised in the Disciples of Christ church.

Andrew J. Dupont, Jr
Andrew J. "Drew" Dupont Jr., 66, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 1, 2007, at Flagler Hospital. Mr. Dupont was a native of Jacksonville, Fla., and had resided in St. Augustine most of his life. Mr. Dupont was a retired U.S. Air Force officer, having served as a pilot in the Vietnam War, retiring as lieutenant colonel, retired president of W.D. Dupont Construction and a field underwriter and certified safety engineer. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Boy Scouts of America and the Kiwanis Club. He was a member of San Sebastian Catholic Church.

Edward J. Labach
Edward J., 86, died on Dec. 30, 2007. He was a proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps, veteran of World War II and a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal. Beloved husband of the late Irene; loving father of Linda Miller, Gary (Diane) Labach, Elaine (Bruce Grady) Labach and Nancy (John) Thomson; and devoted grandfather of Sonya, Kelly, Erica, Laura, David, Danny, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Sarah, Rachel, Zachary and Luke. Visitation Friday 2:30-9 p.m. at Kaul Funeral Home, 27830 Gratiot Ave., Roseville, Fla. Service 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Please make a donation in Edward's name at www.1stmarinedivisionassociation.org. Share a memory with the family at www.kaulfuneralhome.com

Goodwyn Rhett White Jr.
Goodwyn Rhett White, Jr., 77, of St. Augustine, died unexpectedly on Jan. 2, 2008. While Rhett was a native of Charleston, S.C., he relocated to Tallahassee, Fla., in 1945. He graduated from Leon High School in 1950 and The Citadel in 1954. He worked in Florida as a sanitarian until retiring in 1989. Subsequently he served in the Merchant Marine during the First Gulf War. In the following years Rhett continued his Christian lay services by partici-pating in numerous mission trips to Central America. He was a member of the Ancient City Baptist Church in St. Augustine, a former member of the First Baptist Church in Tallahassee, a life member of the NRA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, HAM Radio Club, the John Birch Society, and at various times local Power Squadrons.

George Alexandric Jacob
George Alexandric Jacob, 78, of St. Augustine, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007 at Sentra Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Va. He was a Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. native who had lived in St. Augustine since 1996.

Margaret C. Carter
Margaret (Marbie) C. Carter, 88, a longtime resident of St. Augustine, Fla., died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, Dec. 31, 2007 in Winter Park, Fla. She was born to Charles and Fanny Harris in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on July 5, 1919. She had two brothers, Ed Harris and Bob Harris, and one sister, Vi Harris, all of whom preceded her. She was the wife and widow of Cecil C. Carter. She had three sons, Charles, Gary and Mark (a.k.a. "them boys") who she lovingly referred to as "her three degrees." She was preceded by a son, Gary Carter.

Andrew Joseph DuPont Jr.
Andrew Joseph "Drew" DuPont Jr. of St. Augustine passed away early New Year's Day 2008 at Flagler Hospital after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was 66 years old.

Letter: Challenge Bush's offenses for future
Editor: If impeachable offenses stand and no action is taken they will allow future presidents and administrations to continue and build upon what has been "allowed" and tacitly agreed to. This is important, it is not a choice. It is our representative's responsibility to take a stand for now and the future.

Perspective (The LA Times): The Magic Number
If we can read Wednesday's market news as a sign, 2008 could be a challenging year for the economy. In the new year's first hours of trading, the price of oil hit a record $100 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Letter: Horses are cared for; aren't pushed to extremes
Editor: Those who do not approve of horses on St. Augustine's streets must consider that for the past 5,000 years in our world, and 500 years in St. Augustine draught animals (horses) have served mankind without a complaint. Our local horses are the best cared for, most needed to serve our guests and are a stabilizing influence on the onslaught of car traffic.

Letter: Voter questions precinct change before election
Editor: Regarding election year tinkering at the 11th hour and in the dark of night. After the controversy surrounding Florida in the past two presidential elections, one might reasonably expect open, transparent behavior by Florida's election officials. Instead, the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections is subjecting us to anything but that.

Letter: Foreclosure story, photos didn't belong on Page 1
Editor: I write to you as a concerned citizen of St. Augustine. My family has been long-time subscribers to your paper and due to the front page article on Dec. 30, "Facing Foreclosure." I am now saddened by our loyalty. This particular time of year is for happiness and thanking those around us for all of the wonderful things we have done for each other in the past year. The front-page article and photographs showing homes in foreclosure are appalling. The placing of these families' homes on the front page is done so only to embarrass or shame our fellow citizens. I can only hope that whomever is responsible for placing these photographs on the front page should never have to experience a similar type of public shaming.

Letter: Reader says Rosemond's information incorrect
Editor: As a professional in early intervention (birth-age 3) and a parent of a child with a disability, the John Rosemond article published on Dec. 30 was upsetting to me. The information given was not correct according to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Resources) and the American Academy of Pediatrics' Developmental Milestones Guidelines.

Hanson: The bills came due in 2007
2007 reminded us that our easy way of life comes at a price, and that there are consequences and tradeoffs in almost everything we do. Let's go down the list.

Quinceanera
On the day she is to become a woman, Monica Reyes sits in front of the church for Mass. Her white dress sewn in her mother's Mexican hometown spills over her chair like an oversized lampshade.

Topic: Christ and business
Chuck Ripka, CEO/president of Rivers International, will be speaker at Thursday's meeting of The Marketplace Christian Professional Resources Luncheon at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 155 State Road 312 W.

Nominate Good Samaritans
The St. Augustine Regional Office of Catholic Charities announces its annual call for nominations of individuals to be honored with the Good Samaritan Award. The awards are given to individuals in our community in honor of humanitarian service that reflects the spirit of the biblical Good Samaritan.

Happy birthday, Jesus -- St. Anastasia tradition
The St. Anastasia Catholic Church children and middle and high school youth groups presented their fourth Annual Nativity Pageant and Birthday Party for Jesus the middle of last month to a full house in the church's community center. "Thanks to all of the moms and dads who helped make this possible by bringing their wonderful children to practice, supporting their participation and helping backstage," said St. Anastasia Catholic Church youth group director Melody Ott. St. Anastasia Youth SAY , sponsors the pageant each year as one of their community outreach activities.

Notes
Fund-raising dinner
Roast pork and chicken dinners are on the menu at 6 p.m. Jan. 11 when the Knights of Columbus No. 7121 hosts a dinner at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, A1A South, to benefit a family preparing to move into their Habitat for Humanity home.

NewStart offers help in finding employment
A program which offers help to those wishing to find better jobs and identifying what careers are best for them will be offered beginning Saturday at the St. Augustine Christian Service Center, 50 S. Dixie Hwy., Suite 4.

College hoops: UNC, Pitt roll
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Tyler Hansbrough scored 25 points to lead No. 1 North Carolina to a 90-61 rout of Kent State on Wednesday night.

Speights, Florida hammer High Point
GAINESVILLE -- Marreese Speights had 24 points and 15 rebounds, both career highs, and Florida ended its non-conference schedule with an 88-70 victory over High Point on Wednesday night.

'Dawgs savor dominant Sugar Bowl win
NEW ORLEANS -- After beating up on unbeaten Hawaii, the Georgia Bulldogs sounded a bit miffed about getting passed over for a shot at the national championship. Patience, guys.

PGA season starts early, incomplete
KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Only winners are invited to Kapalua to start the new season at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, making it perhaps the toughest of all PGA Tour events to join.

Short on Experience
JACKSONVILLE -- The Jacksonville Jaguars were just happy to be in the playoffs two years ago, a team with little or no postseason experience that opened the first round at two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England and lost 28-3.

Holes in defense haunt UF
GAINESVILLE -- The Florida Gators allowed just 82 total yards against Ohio State in the national championship game last season.

Belichick named Coach of the Year
NEW YORK -- Spygate be damned! Bill Belichick of the unbeaten New England Patriots is The Associated Press 2007 NFL Coach of the Year.

NHL: Red Wings cruise past Stars, 4-1
DETROIT -- Dan Cleary had a goal and an assist to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night in a matchup of the top two teams in the Western Conference.

NHL: Penguins ease past Toronto, 6-2
PITTSBURGH -- Evgeni Malkin had his first NHL three-goal game and the Pittsburgh Penguins put Toronto away with three goals in 48 seconds early in the third period, returning indoors for a 6-2 victory Thursday night that ran their season-best winning streak to five games.

Sapp to retire after 13 seasons
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Warren Sapp told the Oakland Raiders on Thursday that he was retiring, ending the career of one of the best defensive tackles to play in the NFL.

Bowden: 'Noles need a few more weapons
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State began the 2007 season full of hope that a new group of young coaches could invigorate a program that has slumped in recent years under 78-year-old Bobby Bowden.

Freeze good for peaches, bad for strawberries
NEW ORLEANS -- As strawberry farmers covered their crops for protection from Wednesday's dropping temperatures, peach farmers welcomed the cold, saying they hope it sticks around a while.

Liberty City case gag order draws fire
FORT LAUDERDALE -- A Miami federal judge who declared a mistrial last month for six South Florida men charged with conspiring to support al-Qaida is taking aggressive steps to limit publicity related to the case, including silencing lawyers for a man the jury found not guilty.

Floridians brace for freeze warning
JACKSONVILLE -- All of Florida, from Miami to the Panhandle, was under a freeze warning Wednesday as 2008 started with a quick-moving cold snap expected to damage citrus and other crops, as temperatures should drop into the 20s and teens in parts of the state.

Energy proposals include more nuclear power, conservation
TALLAHASSEE -- More nuclear power and energy conservation and letting customers who generate their own electricity sell excess amounts to power companies are among a wide range of climate-change recommendations that went to the Legislature on Thursday.

Report: Explosion at plant equal to ton of TNT
JACKSONVILLE -- The blast from an explosion that killed four workers at a chemical plant last month was equal to a ton of TNT and blew debris as far as a mile away, a federal investigator said Thursday.

AirTran will remain in Orlando
ORLANDO -- AirTran Airways will keep its corporate headquarters in Florida and add jobs, the low-cost carrier and Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday.

Shuttle flight delayed until late January
CAPE CANAVERAL -- NASA on Thursday delayed the flight of space shuttle Atlantis until late January or, more likely, February to replace a suspect connector in the fuel tank.

Retirement home rejected
After more than two hours of public debate at its monthly meeting on Thursday afternoon, the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency denied the application by a developer to rezone property off U.S. 1 and Old Moultrie Road to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for a 190-bed independent living retirement center.

Tree downs man
A local man was life-flighted this morning to Shands Jacksonville, Jeremy Robshaw, St. Johns County Fire Rescue public information officer, said.

Protest is set as Kenyan election fallout continues
NAIROBI, Kenya -- The opposition party pressed ahead Wednesday with plans to hold a banned "million-man march" Thursday in Kenya's capital to protest a disputed presidential election, raising fears of a new surge of violence.

7 killed in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A suicide bombing north of Baghdad on Wednesday and a string of attacks against members of a burgeoning Sunni tribal movement have demonstrated al-Qaida in Iraq's concern over the alliance between the U.S. military and the grass roots groups.